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Latvia's priorities in ESDP
Latvia and the European Defence Agency
EU – NATO co-operation
References and additional information
The purpose of NATO following its establishment in 1949 was the collective defence of its member countries against the military threat of the Soviet bloc. The present mission of NATO in co-operation with other organisations, is made up of the following elements. Firstly, it still performs the function of deterring military aggression by third countries. Secondly, it helps to enlarge and consolidate the area of security, stability and peace in Europe. Thirdly, the role of the Alliance in regulating international crises and resolving conflicts has increased considerably, initially within the geographic borders of Europe (in the former Yugoslavia), and later, beyond Europe's borders (Afghanistan, Sudan).
Since the mid-1990s, when a number of European countries wanted to join NATO or at least establish active partner relations, the Alliance had the opportunity to set Western standards and norms for the reform process of those countries in political, military, legal, administrative, and financial areas. Concurrently with the NATO "open door policy", the area of stability and development has been enlarged in Central and Eastern Europe, from the Baltic Sea Region to the Western Balkans and the shores of the Black Sea.
These directions were reflected in the NATO strategic concept adopted at the 1999 Washington Summit. The first round of enlargement took place at the same time, admitting Central European countries: Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
The consistent movement of Latvia towards joining NATO culminated in Latvia being admitted to the Alliance on 29 March 2004. A great deal of work was done during this process in harmonising the national legislation and structures – initially in the defence sector, and also the security services and administrative sectors. The Latvian Armed Forces were aligned to new tasks under conditions of joint defence in accordance with the aforementioned NATO new strategic concept. In our case it is important to develop the so-called "special skills": establishing units limited in numbers but performing special functions in a professional manner, and sending them to NATO missions and operations. Latvian field engineers, divers, military police officers, doctors and communications officers have all made valuable contributions.
By joining NATO and the EU, an important Latvian contribution to international security has become co-operation with partner countries interested in the transfer of experience: the Western Balkans, Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia.
By gaining the status of a full-fledged member country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Latvia, similarly to Lithuania and Estonia, has not only received real guarantees of its security, but has also increased its influence within the entire Transatlantic space. This was demonstrated by the decision of member countries to hold the 2006 NATO Summit in Riga. http://www.nato.int/docu/other/lv/latvian.htm
http://www.nato.int/
In addition to membership in NATO, by joining the EU, Latvia gained more than long term prospects of economic stability and growth. Latvia has made every effort to join EU initiatives and activities within the framework of European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
The European Security and Defence Policy began forming under the existing Common Foreign and Security Policy at the initiative of leaders of France and Great Britain.
The Nice Agreement, signed in 2001, included conditions for establishing the ESDP, and provided new opportunities to further develop EU foreign policy, permitting the EU to undertake crisis-regulating operations.
Particularly rapid ESDP development related to the enlargement of the EU and its integration policy has occurred during the past couple of years because the EU wishes to position itself as a significant global player and become actively involved in security issues not only in Europe but throughout the world. These ambitions are illustrated in the all-inclusive European security strategy entitled "European Security Strategy: A more secure Europe in a better world" which provides the main ESDP guidelines and priorities for the coming years.
Notwithstanding the negative results of the European constitutional referenda in France and the Netherlands, and taking into consideration the changes in the international security situation, in June 2004 the Council of Europe approved new Headline Goals for 2010 in relation to the ensuring of military capability (more effective mutual co-operation, rapid reaction and ensuring sustainability of operations).
On 12 July 2004, the Council of Europe adopted a decision to establish the European Defence Agency, whose main task is to support the EU Council and member countries in improving their military defence capability in crisis management and to strengthen ESDP development as a whole.
ESDP is implemented in the form of inter-governmental co-operation, and issues related to this policy are considered by the EU General Affairs & External Relations Council (GAERC) at which EU member countries are represented at Foreign Minister level. A unanimous vote is required to pass ESDP decisions.
The presiding state of the EU has a special role in the work and foreign policy activities of the Council, chairing all Council meetings, as does the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy – Javier Solana.
Latvia's priorities in the ESDP
At the practical level, Latvian priorities in the ESDP comprise measures such as participation in EU civil missions (Afghanistan, Kosovo and the New Neighbours region), participation in the European Defence Agency, and forming Battle groups. It is in the interests of Latvia to significantly improve the international dialogue between the EU and NATO to prevent duplication of the military capability of European countries, and to ensure co-ordinated actions in matters of crisis management.
For Latvia it is important to continue work on the new Civilian Headline oal (2008-2010) and start implementing its objectives, as well as to strengthen training in the field of ESDP, encompasing both civilian and military dimensions, taking into account national activities and the community instruments as well.
Battle Groups
In December 2003, the European Council adopted a decision to begin work on the development of EU Rapid Reaction capabilities. Great Britain, Germany, and France submitted a recommendation to form the so-called Battle Groups, which would be smaller than those of NATO Reaction Forces (NRF), but would have a greater reaction capability.
Starting 1 January 2007, the EU has established its military Operations Centre and the first two EU Battle Groups were ready to take part in operations.
EU member states, have voluntarily merged into joint Battle groups. Every 6 months, two multinational Battle groups can participate in operations, followed by the next two Battle Groups on rotation. At present Italian, Hungarian and Slovenian Battle group are in the order of rotation, as well as in the order is Greek, Bulgarian, Cyprus and Romanian Battle group.
In May 2005, the Latvian Minister of Defence signed a Letter of Intent with the Defence Ministers of Germany, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia to establish a joint Battle Group by 2010.
Latvia and the European Defence Agency
The European Defence Agency (EDA) is an inter-governmental EU institution and the focus for military resource issues. It was established for the purpose of developing a more flexible and effective European military capability. In 2005, the Agency adopted a number of important initiatives for developing military capability. A defence equipment market was opened in Europe to help consolidate and strengthen the European defence technological and industrial base by means of a voluntary inter-governmental regime; on 1 July 2006, the Defence Procurement and Acquisition Policy was established, and this facilitates the competitiveness of the European defence industry and access of member countries to defence markets. At present the EDA is actively co-operating with involved member countries in drawing up a Long Term Vision for EU military capability development, which is to form the conceptual basis of ESDP for the next 20 – 25 years.
By joining the European Defence Agency and being involved in the development of EU military capability, Latvia supports the co-ordination of Agency activities with NATO capability development processes, as each European state has only one armed force which it delegates simultaneously to both organisations.
EU – NATO co-operation
At present a co-ordinated EU and NATO co-operation is based on the "Berlin Plus" agreement reached at the 1999 NATO Washington Summit, which provided that the EU has access to use of the common means and capabilities of the Alliance as well as to the EU Capabilities Development Mechanism.
Considering that development of military capabilities of European countries is taking place simultaneously under both NATO and the EU, Latvia is interested in synchronising the future planning cycles of both organisations.
Notwithstanding the welcome EU and NATO co-operation in planning ESDP missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan, it is obvious that existing problems do not allow full co-operation in Afghanistan between EU police officers and Provincial Reconstruction Groups. To date no technical agreements have been signed between the EU and NATO which would serve as a basis of co-operation in Kosovo.
This situation once again shows that a political resolution is needed to improve relations between the two organisations. The staff-to-staff contacts presently taking place between EU and NATO experts form a good basis for future co-operation between the two organisations.
In future it is important to continue the EU – NATO strategic partnership in crisis management, ensuring an effective coordination including on the security of the EU missions where the EU and NAT(O are already or planning to be engaged in the same theatre (Kosovo and Afghanistan) and to ensure mutually reinforcing military capability development where requirements overlap.
References and additional information
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